Regular use of the Class 40 fleet ended in January 1985, and in the years leading up to that date two of their most popular diagrams with enthusiasts were on the summer-dated,
Mk.1-formed trains from Manchester to Yarmouth and Skegness – No. 40058 working the last ‘Whistler’-hauled 1E34/1M74 to Yarmouth (as far as Norwich) and back on September 3, 1983 and No. 40181 the final 1E67/1M54 to Skegness and back on September 15, 1984. In August 1983, however,
No. 40013 (formerly named
Andania)
worked the Skegness train three times on the 6th, 13th and 27th, and on the third of those is seen at New Mills South Junction (North Derbyshire) with the outbound working to
Skegness.
HAWTHORNE COLLECTION
Fast forward 39 years and No. 40013 – now carrying its original identity No. D213 and renamed Andania – is again seen at New Mills South Junction, this time heading Intercity’s ‘Norfolk Coast Express’ from Manchester to Yarmouth on April 16, formed of a rake of LSL Mk.3 coaches. Readers may have their opinions on which is the best livery for the loco and the coaches – but it is interesting to note how little else has changed at this location in the intervening years apart from some rationalisation of the signalling and track layout.
IAN MITCHELL